MECHANICALS are the traditional "wind-up" watches. They work because of a mainspring inside the watch which the wearer winds by turning the crown on the side of the watch. The spring gradually unwinds and turns tiny interlocking wheels which move the watch hands to measure seconds, minutes and hours.

The AUTOMATIC or SELF-WINDING watches wind themselves as the wearer moves their wrist. The wearer's arm actions cause a weight behind the movement to rotate, winding the mainspring. They can also be wound manually.

QUARTZ watches are powered by batteries, rather than a mechanical spring. The batteries send electronic impulses through a small bar of synthetic quartz crystal which vibrates more than 32,000 times per second. Those vibrations are channeled through a series of gears that result in one impulse per second.

The terms ANALOG and DIGITAL refer to the way time is displayed on the dial. Analog simply refers to a watch with traditional time-telling "hands." Quartz analogs are watches in which the hands are moved by the electronic impulses passing from the battery through the quartz crystal to a step motor which moves the hands.

Digital watches display the time with digits - numbers -instead of hands. The numerals are created by either light-emitting diodes (LED) or liquid crystal displays (LCD).

Quartz watches are generally more accurate than mechanical watches, for two reasons. One, mechanical watches have many moving parts. That means more friction and less accuracy as the parts interact. Digitals have no moving parts. Two, the quartz crystal's constant and amazingly frequent vibrations per second enable watches to measure the second with unprecedented accuracy. A quartz watch should function properly for years with a battery life of one to up to five years

SPECIAL FEATURE watches perform a variety of tasks. Besides telling the hours, minutes and seconds, many watches reveal the month, day and year. Some also give the phases of the moon or the time in other countries or time zones.

CHRONOGRAPH watches measure small fractions of a second. Some are used to calculate speeds, distances and altitudes. There are specialized watches for astronauts, pilots, parachutists and skin divers-even timepieces that meet the special needs of blind persons. Also, most fine watches today are specially made to resist water, dust, wind, shock and magnetic fields.

WATCH MAINTENANCE

To ensure continuing pleasure and performance of your fine timepiece:

1. Keep your watch clean with a soft dry cloth.

2. Avoid contact with perfumes, spirits or petroleum products as these may damage seals, straps or case/bracelet.

3. Ensure that the crown, which is used to change the hands/date, is properly pushed in at all times. This prevents penetration by water or dust.

4. Avoid abrasions as scratching may eventually affect the case and bracelet.

5. If you are about to undertake heavy physical work, remove your watch.

6. If your watch has a leather strap do not wear it too tightly fastened or expose it to water, unless the strap is water resistant.

7. Avoid subjecting your watch to rapid changes in temperature.

8. When not being worn, keep your watch in a cool dry place. 

9. Wind a mechanical watch in a clockwise direction, preferably about the same time each day. Take it off your wrist so as not to place undue pressure on the stem.

Servicing Requirements

1. To ensure reliable performance your watch should be serviced at least every 3 years.

2. Batteries should last for up to two years. If your watch needs a new battery please attend to this immediately as dead cells can harm the movement.

3. A water resistant model should have its seals checked at least every 2 years, and annually if the watch is worn whilst bathing to ensure its water resistance.

4. Your watch should always be returned to an official authorized dealer for servicing and any other necessary repairs.